Multi-cell battery management device

ABSTRACT

Multi-cell battery management devices, systems, and method of operation are disclosed herein. A multi-cell battery pack includes a power output terminal and a plurality of battery cells each having a positive terminal and a negative terminal connected in series. Each cell of the plurality of battery cells includes: i) a cell control processor to monitor cell voltage, cell current, cell temperature, and cell fuse status; ii) a programmable cell balance shunt controlled by the cell control processor that varies the internal resistance of each cell of the plurality of battery cells; and iii) a data communications circuit connected to the cell control processor and to the positive terminal and the negative terminal of each cell, the communications circuit enabling data communications over the positive terminal and the negative terminal of each cell, and wherein the cell control processor responds to commands received via the data communications circuit to vary an operating state of the programmable cell balance shunt.

PRIORITY

The present application is related to, and claims the priority benefitof, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/594,862, filed Dec.5, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated into the presentdisclosure directly and by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Rechargeable battery packs consisting of multiple cell lithium batteriesand other battery technologies are common place in today's consumer andindustrial electronic devices and electric vehicles. Such battery packscan become unstable as the individual cells age and the voltage outputfrom each cell begins to vary with respect to other cells duringoperation thereof. Balancing the output of individual cells would ensuresafe operation of the battery system and improve the performance andlife expectancy of a typical multi-cell battery pack. In such a system,each cell would be monitored by a battery management system thatmeasures the voltage of each serial connected cell and passive or activepower output control devices contained within each cell are controlledby an intelligent controller to balance cell voltage output duringcharging and discharging operation. In addition, it is desirable thatbattery pack voltage is also monitored. Elimination of wires andconnections to each cell for monitoring cell electrical status wouldsignificantly reduce wiring costs and system complexity.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In an exemplary embodiment of a multi-cell battery management device ofthe present disclosure, the device comprises a multi-cell battery packincluding a power output terminal and a plurality of battery cells eachhaving a positive terminal and a negative terminal connected in series.Each cell of the plurality of battery cells includes: i) a cell controlprocessor to monitor cell voltage, cell current, cell temperature, andcell fuse status; ii) a programmable cell balance shunt controlled bythe cell control processor that varies the internal resistance of eachcell of the plurality of battery cells; and iii) a data communicationscircuit connected to the cell control processor and to the positiveterminal and the negative terminal of each cell, the communicationscircuit enabling data communications over the positive terminal and thenegative terminal of each cell, and wherein the cell control processorresponds to commands received via the data communications circuit tovary an operating state of the programmable cell balance shunt.

In yet another embodiment, the above multi-cell battery managementdevice may further comprise a battery management system (BMS) controllerhaving a microcontroller (BMS MCU) therein that executes a computerprogram to monitor and control battery passive cell balancing and acontrol switch via a control signal.

In yet another embodiment, the above multi-cell battery managementdevice may further comprise the BMS MCU transmitting shunt control dataor voltage control data to microprocessor controllers within each cellof the plurality of battery cells, wherein each of the plurality ofbattery cells responds by turning on or off the resistance of theprogrammable cell balance shunts to adjust the operating condition oftheir respective battery cells to achieve cell voltage balancing or adesired cell output voltage.

In yet another embodiment, the above multi-cell battery managementdevice may further comprise the BMS controller operating to direct eachof the microprocessor controllers within each of the plurality ofbattery cells to enable or disable the programmable cell balance shuntswithin each of the plurality of battery cells to achieve a desired cellvoltage.

In yet another embodiment, the above multi-cell battery managementdevice may further comprise the BMS controller communicating preciseprogrammable cell balance shunt settings to each of the microprocessorcontrollers within each of the plurality of battery cells to achievevoltage balancing.

In yet another embodiment, the above multi-cell battery managementdevice may further comprise the programmable cell balance shunt beingcontrolled by each of the microprocessor controllers within each of theplurality of battery cells varies internal resistance of each of theplurality of battery cells individually.

In yet another embodiment, the above multi-cell battery managementdevice may further comprise the BMS controller having a power linecommunications integrated circuit (PLC) that enables the MCU of the BMScontroller to communicate with each of the microprocessor controllerswithin each of the plurality of battery cell individually.

In yet another embodiment, the above multi-cell battery managementdevice may further comprise the multi-cell battery management deviceoperating to reduce higher battery cell voltages to match those of lowerbattery cell voltages in the multi-cell battery pack to prevent damage.

In yet another embodiment, the above multi-cell battery managementdevice may further comprise the programmable cell balance shunt furthercomprising circuit components used to control battery cell outputvoltage by varying resistance of the programmable battery cell balanceshunt.

In yet another embodiment, the above multi-cell battery managementdevice may further comprise the programmable cell balance shunt havinglow resistance to prevent significant loss of power via resistivethermal heating.

In yet another embodiment, the above multi-cell battery managementdevice may further comprise each of the plurality of battery cellsfurther comprising unique identification for communicating with the BMScontroller, so that the BMS controller can identify which specificbattery cell, of the plurality of battery cells, sent a particularcommunication.

In another exemplary embodiment, a method of achieving voltage balancingwithin a multi-cell battery pack is disclosed. The multi-cell batterypack has a battery management system (BMS) controller comprising a datacommunications circuit connected to a power output terminal of themulti-cell battery pack. The BMS controller operates to perform thefollowing steps: i) obtaining cell voltage, cell current, celltemperature and cell fuse status data for each of a plurality of batterycells by transmitting and receiving via the data communications circuit;ii) determining desired cell output voltages based on the cell voltage,cell current, cell temperature and cell fuse status for each of theplurality of battery cells; and iii) transmitting desired cell outputvoltage data to the data communications circuit of each of the pluralityof battery cells using the data communications circuit of the BMScontroller.

In another exemplary embodiment, the above method may further comprisethe BMS controller having a microcontroller (BMS MCU) therein, whereinthe method further comprises controlling an operating state of each cellof the plurality of battery cells using the BMS MCU in communicationwith programmable cell balance shunts controlled by microprocessorcontrollers within each of the plurality of battery cells.

In another exemplary embodiment, the above method may further comprisecontrolling the operating state by operating the BMC MCU to controlshunt control data or voltage control data sent to the microprocessorcontrollers within each of the plurality of battery cells. The method ofclaim 12, further comprising each of the plurality of battery cellsresponding to requests from the BMS controller to provide battery celloperating measurement data of each of the plurality of battery cells tothe BMS controller to achieve voltage balancing.

In another exemplary embodiment, the above method may further comprisethe BMS controller collecting periodic and repeated communicationbroadcasts of battery cell data received from the each of themicroprocessor controllers of each of the plurality of battery cells atpredetermined time intervals to achieve voltage balancing.

In yet another embodiment, the above method may further comprise the BMSMCU transmitting shunt control data or voltage control data to eachmicroprocessor controller within each of the plurality of battery cells,wherein each of the plurality of battery cells responds by turning on oroff the resistance of cell balance shunts to adjust the operatingcondition of their respective battery cells and achieve cell balancingor a desired cell output voltage.

In yet another embodiment, the above method may further comprise the BMScontroller operating to reduce higher battery cell voltages to matchthose of lower battery cell voltages in the multi-cell battery pack toprevent damage.

In yet another embodiment, the above method may further comprise thedata communications circuit being further connected to a cell controlprocessor and to a positive terminal and a negative terminal of eachcell of the plurality of battery cells, wherein the data communicationscircuit is further enabling data communication over the positiveterminal and the negative terminal of each of the plurality of batterycells, and wherein the cell control processor is responding to commandsreceived via the data communications circuit to vary an operating stateof a programmable cell balance shunt.

In yet another embodiment, the above method may further comprise each ofthe plurality of battery cells having a unique identification forcommunicating with the BMS controller, so that the BMS controller canidentify which specific battery cell, of the plurality of battery cells,sent a particular communication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosed embodiments and other features, advantages, anddisclosures contained herein, and the matter of attaining them, willbecome apparent and the present disclosure will be better understood byreference to the following description of various exemplary embodimentsof the present disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a multi-cell batterymanagement device 10, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of cell module 22 of FIG. 1, according toan exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the circuit components of theprogrammable cell balance shunts 42 and 44 of FIG. 1 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

An overview of the features, functions and/or configurations of thecomponents depicted in the various figures will now be presented. Itshould be appreciated that not all of the features of the components ofthe figures are necessarily described. Some of these non-discussedfeatures, such as various couplers, etc., as well as discussed featuresare inherent from the figures themselves. Other non-discussed featuresmay be inherent in component geometry and/or configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of thepresent disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used todescribe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitationof the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended.

An exemplary device for multi-cell battery management device 10 of thepresent disclosure is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 1, device10, such as a multi-cell battery pack 17, includes a microprocessorbased battery management system or BMS controller 12 electricallyconnected to a positive terminal 14 and a negative terminal 16 of amulti-cell battery 17. Multi-cell battery pack 17 also includes aplurality of battery cells, such as 22 and 24. Each of the battery cells22 and 24 includes a positive terminal 46 and a negative (output)terminal 48 connected in series, as shown in FIG. 1. Each of the batterycells 22 and 24 are identical in construction and representative of atypical multi-cell battery pack 17 that may include additional cells “n”as is needed to produce a desired DC output voltage on terminal 14. FIG.2 is an enlarged view of battery cell 22 shown in FIG. 1 and isrepresentative of the components of each battery cell (such as 22 and24).

Battery management system (BMS) controller 12 includes a microprocessorbased controller or microcontroller 28 (BMS MCU 28) that executes acomputer program to monitor and control battery passive cell balancingand control switch 18 via control signal 20. Switch 18 is representativeof a power switching electronic device or alternatively a set of relaycontacts where the signal present on signal path 20 controls theopen/closed state of control switch 18. BMS controller 12 includes apower line communications integrated circuit (PLC) 26 that enables theBMS MCU 28 to communicate with microprocessor controllers 38 and 40present in each of the battery cells 22 and 24 over battery power wire14. PLC 26 includes a UART (universal asynchronous receiver transmitter)interface that is connected to digital inputs and outputs of MCU 28. PLC26 provides a serial data communications interface for BMS MCU 28 tocommunicate with corresponding PLC devices 30 and 32 of battery cells 22and 24, respectively, over battery cell connection wires 14 and 34. Themicroprocessor controllers 38 and 40, of the battery cells 22 and 24,communicate with BMS MCU 28 via PLCs 30 and 32. PLC devices 30 and 32are identical to PLC 26 and provide a serial data communicationsinterface for microprocessor controllers 38 and 40 to exchange data withthe BMS MCU 28 over power wires 14 and 34 of the multi-cell battery pack17.

All microcontrollers, including the BMS MCU 28, and the microprocessorcontrollers 38 and 40 of the battery cells, include typicalmicrocontroller features, specifically a microprocessor, program memoryor ROM, random access memory or RAM, and digital and analog input/output(I/O) capabilities. Each battery cell microprocessor controller 38 and40 operates to monitor its respective battery cell's operatingconditions such as cell voltage, cell current, cell temperature and cellfuse status via I/O circuitry. Such I/O devices are well known in theelectronics art. Further, each battery cell module includes a computercontrolled cell balance shunt (42 and 44) controlled by the respectivemicroprocessor controllers 38 and 40 of each battery cell 22 and 24, asshown in FIG. 1. Each cell balance shunt 42 and 44 includes circuitcomponents used to control battery cell output voltage by varying theresistance of shunts 42 and 44. It is contemplated that the resistanceof shunts 42 and 44 will be low to prevent significant loss of power viaresistive thermal heating. Either ON/OFF or PWM controlled balancing canbe used based on the requirement.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a schematic circuit diagram for battery cells22 and 24 is shown depicting cell balance shunt circuits 42 and 44contained therein, respectively. Each battery cell 22 and 24 of amulti-cell battery pack 17 contains two enhancement mode n-channel andp-channel MOSFET transistors used as electronic switches in the presentdesign. Transistors 50 and 52 are situated in battery cell 44 andtransistors 54 and 56 are situated within battery cell 42. Resistors 58and 60 are shunt resistors and resistors 62 and 64 are voltage “pullup”resistors. Gate (G) of transistor 52 is connected to a digital output ofmicroprocessor controller 40 and gate (G) of transistor 56 is connectedto a digital output of microprocessor controller 38. A logic high levelvoltage at gate (G) of an n-channel MOSFET will turn the device fully“on” reducing the resistance from drain (D) to source (S) to near zeroohms and enabling current to flow from drain (D) to source (S). Pullupresistors 62 and 64 are relatively high in resistance and serve tomaintain a logic high voltage at gate (G) of transistors 50 and 54 whentransistors 52 and 56 are not turned on, i.e., the gate signal attransistors 52 and 56 is logic low. A logic low signal is normallypresent when no cell balancing is required at gate (G) of bothtransistors 52 and 56. When transistors 52 and 56 are “on”, gates (G) oftransistors 50 and 54 are pulled low turning transistors 50 and 54 “on”and connecting shunt resistors 58 and 60 across battery cells 22 and 24.If battery cell balancing is determined necessary, such as the conditionwhere the output voltage of battery cell 24 is greater than the outputvoltage of battery cell 22, microprocessor controller 40 will apply alogic high signal to gate (G) of transistor 52 resulting in a logic lowvoltage at gate (G) of transistor 50 turning transistor 50 “on” and anear zero resistance is then present between the drain (D) and source(S) of transistor 50 and the resistance of resistor 58 is connectedacross signal paths 14 and 34, via positive and negative battery cellterminals, 46 and 48, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Balance current dependsupon battery cell voltage and the resistance of the resistor 58. Thebattery cell balancing continues to be active as long as the batterycell 22 voltage is almost equal to battery cell voltages of 24.Conversely, if the output voltage of battery cell 22 is greater thanthat of battery cell 24 and load balancing is determined necessary,microprocessor controller 38 applies a logic high to gate (G) oftransistor 56, which results in a logic low at gate (G) of transistor 54applying the resistance of resistor 60 to the output voltage of batterycell 22 in parallel with signal paths 34 and 16, via positive andnegative (output) battery cell terminals 46 and 48.

It should be apparent that additional shunt circuits arranged inparallel with the above described circuits could be implemented toprovide a variety of shunt resistances across the battery cell'spositive and negative terminals 46 and 48, thereby enhancing theoperation and efficiency of the battery cell voltage balancing.

Battery management device 10, such as a multi-cell battery pack 17,operates as follows. The BMS MCU 28 within the battery management system(BMS) controller 12 communicates with each battery cell's 22, 24microprocessor controller 38 and 40 over wires 14 and 34 by way of powerline communications devices 26, 30 and 32. Battery cells 22 and 24 mayoperate in one of two modes, a first mode includes responding torequests from BMS controller 12 to provide battery cell operatingmeasurement data to BMS controller 12 such as cell voltage, cellcurrent, cell temperature, and cell fuse state. Alternatively, a secondmode of collecting data from battery cell modules 22 and 24 wouldinclude periodic and repeated communication broadcasts of battery celldata by microprocessor controllers 38 and 40 over power signal lines 34and 14 to BMS controller 12 at predetermined time intervals via PLCdevices 26, 30 and 32. BMS controller 12 monitors the data collectedfrom battery cells 22 and 24 and determines whether battery cellbalancing is required based upon predetermined voltage thresholds. BMScontroller 12 transmits shunt control data or voltage control data tomicroprocessor controllers 38 and 40, which in turn, responds by turningon/off the resistance of shunts 42 and 44 to adjust the operatingcondition of their respective battery cells 22 and 24 and achievebattery cell balancing or a desired battery cell output voltage inaccordance with the description of operation of the circuits shown inFIG. 3. The objective being to reduce higher battery cell voltages tomatch those of the lower voltage battery cells in the multi-cell batterypack 17. BMS controller 12 may either direct microprocessor controllers38 and 40 to enable or disable shunts 42 and 44, respectively, toachieve a desired battery cell voltage, or BMS controller 12 maycommunicate precise shunt settings to microprocessor controllers 38 and40, either operation of which will be successful in voltage balancing.Precise shunt settings are contemplated where the circuits shown in FIG.3 are implemented with multiple switching circuits as shown in FIG. 3for each battery cell resulting in multiple shunt resistances availablein each battery cell.

BMS controller 12 also monitors total multi-cell battery pack 17 voltageand current flow between signal paths 14 and 16 via communications withmicroprocessor controllers 38 and 40. If an operating condition issensed by BMS controller 12 that is undesirable or dangerous, BMScontroller 12 responds by disengaging battery wire 14 from a load orcharger (not shown) by opening switch 18 to disconnect battery wire 14from the load or battery charger circuit and thereby preventingdangerous or device damaging operating conditions.

PLC devices 26, 30 and 32 are commercially available IC devices. Suchproducts are manufactured by a number of suppliers including STMicroelectronics, Atmel, Texas Instruments and Yamar Electronics, Ltd.One particular device that is suitable for use in the present inventionis the SIG60 UART device manufactured by Yamar Electronics, Ltd. whichis adapted for use in AC or DC power systems to provide serial datacommunications over battery power lines. Further information including adetailed data sheet for the SIG60 IC may be found at the web siteWWW.YAMAR.COM and is herein incorporated by reference.

It is contemplated that each battery cell module 22 and 24 may requireunique identification when communicating with the BMS controller 12.Specifically, when communicating with a particular battery cell module,BMS controller 12 includes a battery cell module identifier whentransmitting serial data commands over the power bus to the battery cellmodules 22, 24. Unique identifiers transmitted via serial data streamsare easily established in software by use of a unique numerical value,or in hardware by pulling digital inputs of the microprocessorcontrollers 38 and 40 to a unique logic high or low state via simplepull-up and pull-down resistor circuits. Where each microprocessorcontroller 38 and 40 includes a unique identifier assigned via hardwareor software, each data stream transmitted by the microprocessorcontrollers 38 and 40 would include the unique identifier value as amessage source or “battery cell module” identifier (such as 22, 24,etc.).

While various embodiments of devices for multi-cell battery managementand methods for multi-cell battery management have been described inconsiderable detail herein, the embodiments are merely offered asnon-limiting examples of the disclosure described herein. It willtherefore be understood that various changes and modifications may bemade, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof, withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. The presentdisclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting with respect tothe content thereof.

Further, in describing representative embodiments, the presentdisclosure may have presented a method and/or a process as a particularsequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or processdoes not rely on the particular order of steps set forth therein, themethod or process should not be limited to the particular sequence ofsteps described, as other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore,the particular order of the steps disclosed herein should not beconstrued as limitations of the present disclosure. In addition,disclosure directed to a method and/or process should not be limited tothe performance of their steps in the order written. Such sequences maybe varied and still remain within the scope of the present disclosure.

1. A multi-cell battery management device, the device comprising: a multi-cell battery pack including a power output terminal and a plurality of battery cells each having a positive terminal and a negative terminal and connected in series, and wherein each cell of the plurality of battery cells comprises: a) a cell control processor that monitors cell voltage, cell current, cell temperature, and cell fuse status; b) a programmable cell balance shunt controlled by the cell control processor that varies internal resistance of each of the plurality of battery cells; and c) a data communications circuit connected to the cell control processor and to the positive terminal and the negative terminal of each of the plurality of battery cells, the communications circuit enabling data communications over the positive terminal and the negative terminal of each of the plurality of battery cells, and wherein the cell control processor responds to commands received via the data communications circuit to vary an operating state of the programmable cell balance shunt.
 2. The multi-cell battery management device of claim 1, further comprising a battery management system (BMS) controller having a microcontroller (BMS MCU) therein that executes a computer program to monitor and control battery passive cell balancing and a control switch via a control signal.
 3. The multi-cell battery management device of claim 2, wherein the BMS MCU transmits shunt control data or voltage control data to microprocessor controllers within each cell of the plurality of battery cells, wherein each of the plurality of battery cells responds by turning on or off the resistance of the programmable cell balance shunts to adjust the operating condition of their respective battery cells to achieve cell voltage balancing or a desired cell output voltage.
 4. The multi-cell battery management device of claim 3, wherein the BMS controller operates to direct each of the microprocessor controllers within each of the plurality of battery cells to enable or disable the programmable cell balance shunts within each of the plurality of battery cells to achieve a desired cell voltage.
 5. The multi-cell battery management device of claim 3, wherein the BMS controller communicates precise programmable cell balance shunt settings to each of the microprocessor controllers within each of the plurality of battery cells to achieve voltage balancing.
 6. The multi-cell battery management device of claim 3, wherein the programmable cell balance shunt controlled by each of the microprocessor controllers within each of the plurality of battery cells varies internal resistance of each of the plurality of battery cells individually.
 7. The multi-cell battery management device of claim 3, wherein the BMS controller further comprises a power line communications integrated circuit (PLC) that enables the MCU of the BMS controller to communicate with each of the microprocessor controllers within each of the plurality of battery cell individually.
 8. The multi-cell battery management device of claim 1, wherein the multi-cell battery management device operates to reduce higher battery cell voltages to match those of lower battery cell voltages in the multi-cell battery pack to prevent damage.
 9. The multi-cell battery management device of claim 1, wherein the programmable cell balance shunt further comprises circuit components used to control battery cell output voltage by varying resistance of the programmable battery cell balance shunt.
 10. The multi-cell battery management device of claim 1, wherein the programmable cell balance shunt has low resistance to prevent significant loss of power via resistive thermal heating.
 11. The multi-cell battery management device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of battery cells further comprises unique identification for communicating with the BMS controller, so that the BMS controller can identify which specific battery cell, of the plurality of battery cells, sent a particular communication.
 12. A method of achieving voltage balancing within a multi-cell battery pack, wherein the multi-cell battery pack has a battery management system (BMS) controller comprising a data communications circuit connected to a power output terminal of the multi-cell battery pack, and wherein the BMS controller performs the following steps: i) obtaining cell voltage, cell current, cell temperature and cell fuse status data for each of a plurality of battery cells by transmitting and receiving via the data communications circuit, ii) determining desired cell output voltages based on the cell voltage, cell current, cell temperature and cell fuse status for each of the plurality of battery cells, iii) transmitting desired cell output voltage data to the data communications circuit of each of the plurality of battery cells using the data communications circuit of the BMS controller.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the BMS controller has a microcontroller (BMS MCU) therein; wherein the method further comprises controlling an operating state of each cell of the plurality of battery cells using the BMS MCU in communication with programmable cell balance shunts controlled by microprocessor controllers within each of the plurality of battery cells.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein controlling the operating state further comprises operating the BMC MCU to control shunt control data or voltage control data sent to the microprocessor controllers within each of the plurality of battery cells.
 15. The method of claim 12, further comprising each of the plurality of battery cells responding to requests from the BMS controller to provide battery cell operating measurement data of each of the plurality of battery cells to the BMS controller to achieve voltage balancing.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the BMS controller is collecting periodic and repeated communication broadcasts of battery cell data received from the each of the microprocessor controllers of each of the plurality of battery cells at predetermined time intervals to achieve voltage balancing.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the BMS MCU transmits shunt control data or voltage control data to each microprocessor controller within each of the plurality of battery cells, wherein each of the plurality of battery cells responds by turning on or off the resistance of cell balance shunts to adjust the operating condition of their respective battery cells and achieve cell balancing or a desired cell output voltage.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein the BMS controller operates to reduce higher battery cell voltages to match those of lower battery cell voltages in the multi-cell battery pack to prevent damage.
 19. The method of claim 12, wherein the data communications circuit is further connected to a cell control processor and to a positive terminal and a negative terminal of each cell of the plurality of battery cells, wherein the data communications circuit is further enabling data communication over the positive terminal and the negative terminal of each of the plurality of battery cells, and wherein the cell control processor is responding to commands received via the data communications circuit to vary an operating state of a programmable cell balance shunt.
 20. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of battery cells further comprises unique identification for communicating with the BMS controller, so that the BMS controller can identify which specific battery cell, of the plurality of battery cells, sent a particular communication. 